Atlantic Division 2014-15 Preview: Detroit Red Wings

2013-14 NHL Atlantic Division preview: Can the Detroit Red Wings keep their playoff streak alive with brittle, aging veterans and a lack of offense?

Author:
Dan Gartland
Publish date:
Sep 28, 2014

SI.com's 2014-15 Preseason All-NHL Teams: first, second, third

COACH:

2013-14 RECORD: 39-28-15, 93 points (fourth in Atlantic; lost to Bruins, 4-1, in first round)

VITAL SIGNS: 2.71 goals-for per game (17th); 2.80 goals-against per game (18th); 17.73 power play pct. (18th); 83.05 penalty kill pct. (12th); shootout record: 5-9

NOTABLE ARRIVALS: None

NOTABLE DEPARTURES: F David Legwand, F Daniel Alfredsson (injured; possible retirement)

PROJECTED DEPTH CHART

Forwards

Tomas Tatar — Pavel Datsyuk — Darren Helm
Justin Abdelkader — Henrik Zetterberg — Johan Franzen
Riley Sheahan — Stephen Weiss — Gustav Nyquist
Drew Miller — Luke Glendeing — Tomas Jurco
Daniel Cleary, Joakim Andersson

Defensemen

Niklas Kronwall — Jonathan Ericsson
Danny DeKeyser — Kyle Quincey
Brendan Smith — Brian Lashoff
Jakub Kindl

Goalies

Jimmy Howard
Jonas Gustavsson

Fancy Stats Primer: Your guide to hockey's advanced analytics jargon

with a separated shoulder.) T

• Red Wings should prepare for more injuries this season

PLAYER TO WATCH: Gustav Nyquist

Nyquist was not called up to the NHL until late November and still managed to lead the Red Wings in goals (28). He really turned it on late in the season, leading all NHL players in goals from Jan. 20 to the end of the regular season, but NHL history is littered with players who had one great goal-scoring campaign before reverting to a mediocre norm. Nyquist will be in tough to prove that he can be a consistent producer, especially when he won't have the benefit of the element of surprise this time around.

PREDICTION: 90 points, fifth in Atlantic